The Metro is an affordable and efficient means of transport,says Akila Krishnakumar
The launch of Namma Metro is a very commendable first step in a larger and more holistic plan to address Bangalore's single largest infrastructure problem - mass rapid transit.
In this city that prides itself as an IT and R&D hub,businesses work hard to stay competitive,innovative,socially responsible and attractive to employees and their families.Namma Metro is a perfect enabler to all these goals and will be warmly welcomed and quickly embraced.
As an individual and as a corporate citizen of Bangalore,I am happy that there's now a safer,more affordable,more efficient and a more environment-friendly means of transport.The fact that the Metro is now ready to run commercially means we are past the proof of concept stage.It is now up to execution,which encompasses actions that are beyond the Metro service itself.To use a rather aggressive but apt phrase,the devil lies in the details.Be it in connecting buses,ample prepaid autos,parking lots for personal vehicles,ticketing systems or fare schedules - Namma Metro's success will lie in sustained service levels and continuous improvement.
Other city Metro systems in India have been widely chronicled as success stories.Reading about them made us envious and hopeful.They certainly raised the bar on Namma Metro's planners,engineers and workers.We will be glad to see the one-ways and potholes,traffic jams and road rage scenes go away around the route.As the city of opinionated technology natives rush to text,tweet and blog about Namma Metro,let us remember that it is Namma (our) Metro.
Keeping it clean,being courteous and following safety recommendations is a small part we can all play in making it Bangalore's next new pride.We should leave no room for the quintessential 'swalpa adjust maadi' attitude that creeps into all public services.
I wish the Namma Metro team all support and success and my fellow Bangaloreans a large and rightful dose of Namma Metro pride.
(The author is Chairperson,NASSCOM Karnataka Regional Council)
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